Thanks Beth, for pointing out that a Disney site says there will be a Potter attraction at Epcot sometime in 2006, as the rumors have suggested. This should still be treated as a rumor, though, until there is official confirmation.

Paul Sheehan of the Sydney Morning Herald appreciates what J.K. Rowling has done for children’s literature, but he really wishes she’d tell Harry to take a bath.

Psychology professor Don Morgenson is the latest to try to understand the draw of Harry, in an article that compares the series to Lord of the Rings: Frodo’s Middle-earth, much like our own world, is not filled with unalloyed joy. It is, however, a world with meaning, even if that meaning may appear cruel and …read more!

An English professor offers his thoughts on what Harry’s about, and the issues that make “many Christian parents distrust the Potter series.”: As only the child at heart can enter Lewis’s Narnia, Hogwarts is invisible to outsiders. Looking at this magnificent 1,000-year-old castle, a Muggle, one without magical power, sees only “a moldering old ruin …read more!

Entertainment Weekly has a short bit about Mike Newell being considered as director for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, with this from Azkaban director Alfonzo Cuaron: “It was always only Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for me. I never thought [seriously] about continuing.” Though he was approached about doing HP4, prepping …read more!

The Church of Ireland Gazette has good things to say about Harry: …we can acknowledge that the Harry Potter books teach young people (and some older ones, too) many important realities about the world we live in: goodness, in all its weaknesses, can still overcome evil; we must not be tricked into equating beauty with …read more!

This Jewsweek commentary considers the possibility, with mention of Nimbus 2003 presenter Amy Miller’s paper on the subject. Thanks to the Amy for the link!

Several Newsweek readers took issue with Alfonso Cuaron’s remarks about President Bush in that magazine’s recent article – click and scroll down to read more.